Sunday, June 04, 2006

"Hypocritical Love" ~By Dani

I would first like to thank Dani for being a guest blogger and giving us her input on what she truly believes is right and wrong. We both are Christians who love God--however we have very different beliefs as far as what the bible says to be true, and what we believe in our hearts to be true. Our differences had once set us apart and manifested many arguments and debates and now we have established a friendship regardless of different mindsets. Although Dani believes I should repent and give up homosexuality, I believe that God loves me in spite of my sins and my relationship with someone of the same sex. We constantly are battling with the struggle of our physical nature vs. our spiritual side. They are always at war. This is why we are saved through Christ---to save us from our sins.

If you visit this site, you will see how gay Christians live through Jesus and live according to the bible. In my beliefs, we are children of God. If our own parents are able to accept us, then why can't God? Do we think He's not capable?

Here's Dani and her well thought out post on her beliefs. Thank you Dani for taking the time out to explain yourself and share your thoughts. Also, I'd like to keep the discussion in the comment section civil if possible. Please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions, views and beliefs--but let's try to just share and not attack. I've made that mistake quite a few times. Whenever there's a heated discussion, there's always that risk of 'losing' our cool and resorting to the worst kind of debate.

First, let me start by saying thank you to Deb for having me here as a guest here on her blog. I realize that it is very brave of her to allow me to speak my mind, considering all of the controversy between us over the past month or so. I am very grateful to Deb for giving me the opportunity to pour out my heart and speak the truth as I and share my thoughts with everyone.

I know I have not gained much popularity around here based upon previous comments towards me, and I am fully prepared for a massive feeding frenzy of "Dani-hatred," insults and accusations in response to my views in this post. I have prayerfully put much time and consideration into what I should write and all I ask it that everyone read this with an open-mind, and with the same "love" and "tolerance" that each one of you claims to live by.

I must emphasize here that I believe with all my heart that the Bible is the infallible Word of God, and everything in it is Holy, True and Divinely inspired. It is the foundation of the Christian faith and we must strive to completely understand it, without compromise, so that we may live a life pleasing to God, and bring honor and glory to the Body of Christ.

Christians are OBLIGATED to challenge ideals and worldviews which are opposed to Scripture. Many of you have accused me of being "hateful" and "judgmental" for quoting the Bible and speaking the Truth. I realize there have been times when I do come across as harsh and offensive, but if you really knew the intentions of my heart, you would know that my motivation is purely love.

The Bible calls for a balance between what some people think are two opposing reactions—rebuke and compassion. Really, the two are essential elements of true Biblical Love.

Homosexual advocates have been remarkably effective in selling their warped interpretations of Scripture which address homosexuality. We live in an age of "rational" thought, scientific knowledge, survival of the fittest, secular government, humanistic education and cultural diversity. Over the years we have blurred the line between right and wrong, redefined Truth, and perverted the true meaning of Love. The homosexual community, as well as the church have utterly deceived people like Deb into believing, confessing, tolerating, and promoting a false gospel of “love.” Homosexuals, and shamefully many "Christians" have digested an interpretation of truth that is not only warped and wicked, but also completely irrational.

Up until about fifty-years ago here in the United States, homosexuality was not only considered a sin, it was a crime. In fact, the previous 5,000 years or so of world history, sodomy was a crime punishable by death. Even in the recent past, the crime of sodomy was defined as the abominable and detestable crime against nature, and it was a felony in every state. It just so happens that the Bible also defines homosexuality as an abominable and detestable crime against nature.

Today, while governments such as Canada's and the US. State of Massachusetts have legalized sexual perversion, most of the church, to it's shame, either embraces homosexuality or stands idly by in fear of losing revenue. Throughout history, God’s standards have NOT changed because His Law is Righteous, True and Everlasting! Read this => Homosexuality is a Perversion!

Followers of Christ, must NOT compromise on what the Bible says about sin, especially the abomination of homosexuality! No matter how one interprets the Bible, it is abundantly clear throughout Scripture that homosexuals stand in defiant rebellion against nature and the will of their Creator, who from the beginning, “made them male and female.” (Genesis 1:27)

Jesus' two greatest commandments are to love God with all your heart and soul, and to love your neighbor as yourself (Matt 22:37-40). Since love has been reduced to a mere feeling which is gained and lost on as much as whim, men no longer love God or their neighbors as Jesus Christ commanded them to do.

“This is love, that we walk according to His commandments.” - 2 John 1:6

Although salvation is obtained by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, the fruit of that salvation can be seen in the lives of those who walk in obedience to God's commandments. Christians are called to put their faith into action by loving God and living their lives according to His will. You cannot be "Walking In Love" while boasting in your sin. Shall we continue to justify our sin so that grace may abound? - Certainly not! (Romans 6:1)"Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us." - 1 John 3:24

It is completely clear throughout the Bible that homosexuality is not an area where God's followers are free to live by their own feelings of right and wrong. The principles in Scripture which are to guide our lives are set out in no uncertain terms. Sexual immorality of any kind is wrong and destructive, and God undoubtedly forbids it.

While we are all sinners, perfect obedience must be our constant goal. We should not glorify our perversion to the world under the false premise of love, nor deceive those around us into thinking it's okay to compromise on God's commands. Any desire that becomes too important in our lives and causes us to compromise the truth will ultimately cause us to lose sight of God's goodness, mercy and love.

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” - Matthew 16:24

Jesus had no patience for half-hearted and hypocritical followers. He was totally and passionately committed to fulfilling His earthly mission, and He expected the same of His followers. Obviously, we can never fully live up to Christ's example, but we can do our best to live out our faith in every hour of every day.

Commitment to carrying out God's plan may be inconvenient, uncomfortable, and it may conflict with your own personal feelings and desires. However, Christians should not continue to fulfill the lusts of the flesh just because they think God would want them to be happy. Believers are commanded to walk in the Spirit, and when we do, the peace of mind, purposefulness of life and eternal rewards will be immeasurably great. Most importantly, when we truly walk in the Spirit and deny our flesh, we are giving a True testimony for Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

"I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law." - Galatians 5:16-18

God does not put restrictions on our lives to be cruel or to deny us pleasure. Just like a loving father guides his children in the right direction and sets limits for them so they do not hurt themselves, God sets boundaries for our own good because He loves us and knows what's best for us. In the same way a child desires to please his earthly father, we also should seek to obey God, our Heavenly Father, in all we do because we love Him.

“For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality.” - 1 Thessalonians 4:3

The greatest commandment is to love God. Jesus’ second command is to love your neighbor as yourself. But what does "loving" your neighbor really mean? Doesn’t real love require us to confront each other if we saw that they were sinning, hurting themselves, and blaspheming the name of the LORD?

“Better is open rebuke, than love that is concealed.” - Proverbs 27:5

While everyone is accusing me of being "hateful" and "judgmental" towards Deb for being a "Christian" lesbian, I am the only one who loves her enough to tell her the truth. Here is a scenario I gave on another post of mine: Deb is recklessly speeding down a mountain road and all of her friends are cheering her on saying, "Way to go, Deb! We love you...No need to slow down, just do what makes you happy." Meanwhile, I’m waving my hands shouting out, "Deb - slam on the breaks! There is a cliff ahead! If you don't stop, you’re going to die!" But, her so-called friends keep telling tell her, "Just ignore Dani! She's just a judgmental bigot. If you want to drive off a cliff - Go right ahead! Do what feels good because we love you, and no one can judge you!" What kind of "loving" friend encourages the other to continue driving down a road towards death?

“A friend loves at all times.” – Proverbs 17:17

I am not here to be "Holier Than Thou" or a sarcastic know-it-all. But as a real friend, I am here to tell the Truth of God’s Word in love and drive Deb towards repentance instead of off a cliff. If we see those around us living in disobedience towards God, is it really "loving" to let them continue on living in sin and rebellion? Can we really love others the way God wants us to without passing judgment on them?

In Romans 12:9, the Apostle Paul says this - "Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good."

How can we abhor evil if we cannot even make a judgment about it? We can't - It’s impossible! Homosexual acts, along with the spiritual and cultural agenda which promotes it, are the epitome of evil. Sexual immorality is clearly in violation of God’s Law and those who participate in it are evil. Homosexuals are not only sexual deviants, as are fornicators and adulterers; but they also have gone a step further in their wickedness and exchanged the natural use into that which is against nature, and exchanged the truth of God for a lie. (Romans 1)

Deb once said in a previous comment of hers, “there is a huge difference between God knowing your heart---and having evil intentions.” The Bible says in Proverbs 23:7, “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” Continuing to live as a lesbian makes Deb evil in God’s eyes. But, if she truly wants to live for God, she must change her heart, turn from her evil ways and pray that God will help her overcome her weaknesses.

"In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God." - Romans 8:26-27

When I come across a woman like Deb who defends her lifestyle and openly mocks God by identifying herself as a “Neurotic Christian Lesbian,” I have an obligation to tell her the truth about her sinful ways because I love her, have compassion for her and don't want to see her destroy her life while taking others down with her. More than that, I love the Lord Jesus Christ, and I am called to stand up for Truth and Righteousness which includes rebuking people like Deb.

“Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth.” - 1 Corinthians 13:6

God is Love. God is also Holy, Just and Righteous and He “hates all who do iniquity (Psalm 5:5). God does not merely send sins to hell, He sends people to hell! Our hearts must be pure and our eyes always need to be toward the One who is Love, otherwise we could fall away from God forever. Once we have a good conscious, we will learn to love as the Savior loves, in TRUTH and WITHOUT HYPOCRISY!

“Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith.” - 1 Timothy 1:5

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In Closing to Deb ~

I know this has been quite the crusade between the two of us, and I admit that there were times that I was unnecessarily harsh and offensive. But through all of this controversy, we have been able to find some common ground in the Lord, and we have become friends. I think you are a fun-loving gal with strong passions and desires. That being said, my loyalties are to Jesus Christ, and if He commands us to love our neighbors like we love ourselves, I will to tell you to REPENT because I do not want to see you damage your testimony for Christ and continue to hurt those around you. Just like with any of my friends, I will not tolerate your sin and perversion for any reason. As 1 Corinthians 5:11 says, "Do not even associate with any so-called brother if he is a sexually immoral person."

If my words are offensive to you, ask yourself this: Are you offended because I am being hateful and mean, or are you offended because what I say is true? Think about it for a moment and remember that the Truth is oftentimes offensive!

Wrapping things up, let me now take this moment to remind you of a post you wrote back in September 2005 titled, Evil Spirits…Be Gone. You were writing about a bad church experience condemning homosexuals and you said this - “Madelene and I decided that we will not be tortured like that; however, we will include God in everything we do. He comes first, above all. Without God, we are nothing…Being in love with Madelene with all my heart gives me happiness; having a personal relationship with God, means the world to me.”

Now I am sure you love Madelene, but "being in love" with someone is not a justification for continuing to live in sin. Where in the Bible does it say do what feels good to make your heart happy? You and your partner were not being tortured by the church, your feelings got hurt and you were offended by the Truth. If God comes first above all, like you claim, then you should make Him first above all. God is calling you to make a choice Deb: Either continue to mock God by openly living in disobedience as a lesbian, or abandon your lifestyle if you truly want a personal relationship with the Lord of your life. You can NOT have both!

"For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin." - Romans 6:6

Will you continue to be a slave to your sin forever, Deb? For your own sake and those around you, I sure hope not. Take up your cross, deny yourself, and follow Jesus today! Do not let this sin of homosexuality reign in your mortal body any longer so that you obey its evil desires. Put your sin to death once and for all, be a "Doer of the Word" (James 1:22), and don’t be a hypocrite any longer!

Thanks again for giving me the platform to share what is on my heart. My prayer is that you will receive this in the LOVE of which it is intended.